We already mentioned it in our list of original gifts for bikers. However, we hadn’t really had a chance to try it out in real life. But now we actually have. And after 6 months of use in all sort of conditions, we can give you a detailed review of the Shoei Glamster helmet.

So would this helmet be the best of both worlds? In other words, a stylish helmet that could also be used for long, multi-day rides out? After around 6 months of testing, we can come up with the beginning of an answer.

In a nutshell for our busy readers

Pros	Cons
The look (!!) Quality of the materials and finish Pinlock included Weight (1200 gr. In size M) 5 years of warranty Use as a stylish helmet to cruise around	No sunshield Pressure points behind the ear when wearing sunglasses. Really painful after 45 minutes Sound insulation passed 80 km/h The visor will not stay open when riding due to air pressure. Use as a touring helmet

review shoei glamster helmet

In details now

A little history: the origins of the neo-retro trend

At the very beginning, we can find the café racer culture. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Café racers were standard production bikes that were modified by their owners and optimized for speed and handling for quick rides over short distances.

Then in the 2000s, we could witness the emergence of custom workshops, such as the Australian from Deus Ex Machina, or the Danish from Wrenchmonkees, who created a ‘new’ motorcycling culture. Their value proposition was simple: offering a demanding bikers’ clientele, motorcycle customised to their taste, in order to stand out from the crowd. Back then, those workshops were working mainly with BMW R80, or Japanese models (e.g. Honda CX 500). 

At the same time, at Deus in particular, they started offering accessories and equipment so bikers could match their outfits to their bikes, and wear them as rallying signs to a community of erudite connoisseurs.

review shoei glamster helmet

New customers with strong purchasing power…

Manufacturers also wanted to ride this wave of nostalgia, but above all they saw it as a the cash machine a good business opportunity. They realised that they could target a new, more urban clientele with greater purchasing power.

So it was only natural that they also got into the neo-retro trend. Firstly, through initiatives such as Yamaha Yard Built, where top notch workshops were asked to custom their factory bikes. By doing so, manufacturers could ride the hype and position themselves as innovative. And icing on the cake, based on the public’s reactions, they could determine what the biker community liked and didn’t like. A kind of external development that limited financial investment, so to speak.

Then, based on these preps, and drawing on their own archives and organ banks, they brought out new factory models.

BMW and its R Nine T started the ball rolling, followed by Triumph updating its new Bonneville range, Yam and its XSR range, Kawasaki and its RS 900, and so on.

Now in the 2020s, this alternative culture has become mainstream, and every single manufacturer now offers neo-retro models, relying on a more or less existing heritage of emblematic models.

And what about the equipment manufacturers (OEMs)?

And as is often the case in life, manufacturers start and equipment manufacturers follow. The latter also wanted to offer products to this clientele, who were looking for stylistic alternatives in their motorbike riding practice.

And while Bell took the lion’s share of the market for many years, notably with its Bullit model, others are determined to compete with them in this juicy market, notably the Japanese company Shoei with two models, the Ex-Zero, more of a cross-type model, and the Glamster. And it’s the latter that interests us here.

Specs

• AIM shell for shock absorption
• Multi-density polystyrene padding
• CPB-1V screen
• Double-D buckle
• Weight: 1250 g (size M)
• Emergency Quick Release System (E.Q.R.S.)
• 3 different shell sizes (XS-M/ L/ XL-XXL)
• 3D headgear
• Cheek foams in different thicknesses (31, 35, 39, 43, 47 mm)
• Detachable and washable interior

In use

The author of this article is lucky enough to have been able to test it for around 6 months. Here’s what he has to say about it:

Value for money

found on sale at a retailer at 430 CHF/€, it’s clear that given the level of performance, the price is right for a 2nd helmet, and a fibreglass one at that. The new 2023 model is advertised as being €100 to €150 more expensive. At this price, for a helmet with fairly limited range, you really have to consider your options. A Shoei GT-Air II may be worth a bit more, but it’s far more versatile and can be used for long tours lasting several days.

Finish :

AIM fibreglass shell, multi-density polystyrene padding, Pinlock included, leatherette foam base that’s rather flattering to the eye and reminiscent of the helmets of yesteryear. In short, excellent materials that justify, at least in part, its premium price.

Comfort :

• Weight: Weighing in at just 1,200g in size M, with optional accessories, the helmet is fairly light and doesn’t feel heavy even after several hours.
• Ventilation: with ventilation only on the front of the helmet, chin and forehead, which is adjustable, but in very hot weather this can be a bit limited. Note that the ventilation on the chin does not send air directly into the face, but rather has a design function.
• Sound isolation: correct up to 80km/h, after that it gets noisy. And I’m not even talking about a journey on the motorway. Bring earplugs for long journeys.
• Vision: good field of vision thanks to a wide visor. What’s more, the pin lock prevents fogging on the inside of the visor. BUT, because there’s a big but, the absence of a sun visor is problematic in my opinion, if not prohibitive. More on this in the negative points section.

Look

Superb vintage look. There’s a wide choice of colours, including some more elaborate special editions. In short, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, and you won’t go unnoticed wearing this helmet.

Color(s)

I deliberately chose white, because I wanted to try a light-coloured helmet at least once in my life. And I’m not disappointed with my choice. And why is that? Because it doesn’t feel as warm as a black helmet! In the long run, white will reflect light, whereas black attracts it. And combined with the heat coming off your head, it can become a little sauna up there. But as this helmet is intended for short rides of <60min, I wouldn’t say that it will necessarily have a big impact. And if you like other colors better, then go for it.

Protection/security

Q.R.S. (Emergency Quick Release System) and ECE 22/05 approval. In short, it meets European standards and what you should expect from a premium helmet.

Durability

After around 2000km, the helmet is still in perfect condition. We’ll see in the long run. But in my experience, Shoei helmets age very well, especially if you look after them properly.

review shoei glamster helmet

Any negative aspects?

For me, the absence of a sun visor is the biggest negative point of this helmet. Not that this is a brand exception. Most helmets in this style don’t have one (Bell, DMD, etc.). However, in use, this poses three problems for longer rides.

1. Either you don’t wear sunglasses and are constantly dazzled.
2. Or you do wear sunglasses, in which case your vision is impaired in tunnels, for example, which can be dangerous.
3. Or you opt for a smoke/photochromatic visor. But that doesn’t really solve the two previous problems, because you’ll be stuck in the middle if you will.

And if you have to ride around with the normal visor at the start/end of the day, then replace it with the other visor when it’s very bright, then thanks for the practicality.

In any case, I strongly advise against riding with the visor open and without glasses. Even at 50 kph, you can get an insect right in the eye and you’ll see how pleasant it is. Let alone at 100 kph…

Otherwise, I felt pressure points behind my ears, where the helmet presses on the sunglasses temples. After 45 minutes, it became downright painful. And after 90 minutes, I had to stop to relieve the pain. And for a helmet designed for long outings lasting several hours a day, it’s frankly not great! Thus, I’ll stick to my Shoei GT-Air for road-trips.

Now you’ll tell me that it ultimately depends on the shape of your skull and your glasses.

Of course it does! But I’ll tell you that I’ve tried many helmets, of different brands, with optical or sunglasses, with different thicknesses of temples, and this is the only one that gave me such an unpleasant sensation. And that already after 30-45 minutes.

Sound isolation, good below 80 kph

Otherwise, the soundproofing, at speeds above 80km/h, might put off some of you, who might be tempted to use it for touring (motorways + long stretches). You can always get earplugs to overcome this problem. But then, some bikers don’t like the sensation.

Last but not least, the choice of the Double-D buckle for a helmet of this type is questionable. Firstly, because very few of you will use it on the track. Secondly, for urban and/or suburban use, a notched buckle would be more practical.

 

review shoei glamster helmet

To conclude

So to sum up, if you’re looking for a quality helmet with good styling to parade around in a 30-50km radius around your home, then this helmet will be perfect. And in this style, the Bell Bullitt will, in my opinion, be even less versatile.

There’s still the very top of the range, for example the Hedon Helmets. With even more noble materials, notably real leather and fibreglass/carbon shells, but above all with an entry price of over 800 CHF/€. Which means they’re aimed at an even more wealthy clientele.

Now, if you’re thinking that with the Shoei Glamster, you’ll finally have the best of both worlds – a stylish helmet calibrated for long road-trips – don’t bother. This helmet is likely to disappoint you, because you won’t find the comfort of a GT-Air, a Neotec or even an NXR.

So should you go for style or comfort?

That’s a question for you to answer! But if you can’t decide, you might have to break your piggy bank and buy both ;-)!

In any case, we hope you find this test useful. Don’t hesitate to check out our blog for other motorcycle-related topics.

Ride on !

review shoei glamster helmet

Picture gallery